NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans beach volleyball team (2-2) is gearing up for a weekend in which they face their first Southland Conference opponents in the Bayou Battle in Thibodaux, La., from Friday, Mar. 1, to Saturday, Mar. 2. The tournament will feature matchups against Southeastern, Nicholls State and Mary Hardin-Baylor.
The action-packed weekend kicks off on Friday with games against Mary Hardin-Baylor and Nicholls State. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. against Mary Hardin-Baylor, followed by Nicholls State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday's lineup begins with Nicholls State at 10 a.m. and concludes with Southeastern Louisiana University at 4:30 p.m.
In the opening weekend, New Orleans showcased a strong performance, securing two wins, including a historic victory over Oregon. Although facing tight contests against North Alabama and Stephen F. Austin, the team demonstrated resilience with each match lost going to a third set. Junior
Serena Baumgart and freshman
Anne Marie Hardouin stood out as the lone pair to remain undefeated on court number three, triumphing over their opponents in two set advantages.
Seniors
Hannah Volpi and
Valerie Vujnovich, competing on court number one, posted a 2-2 record. Meanwhile, senior
Bria Garmon and sophomore
Maria Ozaeta, alongside junior Ivana De Carvalho and freshman
Nikelle Lander, are poised for success with 3-1 records heading into the weekend.
The Privateers will look to repeat their success against Mary Hardin-Baylor, whom they defeated 5-0 in their inaugural meeting in 2022. Mary Hardin-Baylor enters the tournament following a mixed weekend in Kingsville, Tx., securing victories against East Texas Baptist but facing defeats against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
New Orleans aims to extend their 12-match winning streak over Nicholls State. Despite a challenging start to their season with losses to A&M Corpus Christi, Cal Poly and Tarleton State, Nicholls State claimed victory over McNeese in their most recent outing under the guidance of first-year head coach Jonea Rima.
Facing Southeastern, the Privateers boast a strong 10-2 record, with their most recent triumph occurring during the 2023 SLC tournament. The Lions, coming off a season-opening weekend at Tulane, are eager to bounce back after a series of losses to Tulane, North Alabama and Oregon.
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